Chapter Eighty-one: Bridging the Divide

Grace’s Point of View

I had always feared this moment, even after my job of becoming Rei's friend was over and we had truly become friends. I knew that, eventually, she would discover the truth about how I came into her life and how I kept certain things from her. Everything I did was in her best interest, just like everyone else in her life. For the past decade, I have been there for Rei through thick and thin, helping to raise her children as if they were my niece and nephews.

“I’ve never seen Mom mad at you before. Ever,” Shiloh whispered to me.

“Are you okay?” she asked with concern.

Fuck. Even Rei’s kids had her kind heart. With everything that had just happened, the first thing Shiloh asked me was how I was.

I managed to say, “No,” but my voice was choked with emotion. I couldn't let myself cry; it would be selfish now. I needed to be strong for the children and Aamon. He sat in the seat in front of me, a hollow shell of the man he used to be, staring out the window without really seeing anything.

“Auntie Grace, Mom loves you. She’ll forgive you. Mom never stays angry for too long. Trust me, I know this,” Salem said solemnly, unbuckling his seatbelt to throw his little arms around me.

I whispered urgently, "Salem, I love you and appreciate the hug, but please put your seatbelt back on now!"

“Fine,” groaned Salem.

I turned around and watched to make sure he actually put it back on. This was Salem, after all—creative chaos at its finest. He didn’t have to go looking for trouble; it found him.

“Salem’s right, Aunt Grace. Mom will forgive you. She just needs time to calm down, and to cry. Mom definitely needs to cry,” Onyx said sagely.

“It’s good that Xavier is bringing her. He’s good. He has strong arms and an even stronger heart. Xavier will help pick Mom up if she needs it,” Salem added with a serious expression on his face.

Both Shiloh and Onyx looked at him and just shook their heads. But it was an accurate observation. Xavier was the perfect person to bring Rei to Aamon’s place. Rei had already forgiven Xavier because she’d decided to stay with him and asked me to bring the kids. I could only hope that she would forgive me, too.

Aamon’s Point of View

He was gone. My grandfather was really gone. I’d held on to the hope that maybe he would recover. But the fact that he would hold on to say goodbye to Rei and his grandchildren was a miracle in itself.

The organization was mine to run now. All responsibility fell to me. I’d grown up in the mafia and knew and understood how it operated. I could run it; I just didn’t want to. But we don’t always get to do what we want. Life had repeatedly taught me that.

I was glad that Grace was sitting in the back with the kids. I couldn’t focus on talking with her or anyone else right now, much less drive. Jakub was the one I wanted with us as we left the hospital. He’d been my grandfather’s most trusted, and now his loyalty would be to me. Jakub was also grieving. In all the ways that mattered, my grandfather was a father figure to him.

“Boss, we’re almost there. Should I wait until the morning to put things in place for Emmanuel and his crew? Especially with Rei and Xavier coming here for the first time…” Jakub’s voice trailed off, unsure of how best to finish what he was saying.

I let out a deep sigh. Jakub's question was valid; we couldn't ignore the situation forever. However, my main concern was for Rei and her children. As for Xavier, I wasn't worried about him; he was aware of our organization, just as we were aware of him. When he chose to be with my step-sister, he made a conscious decision to leave his old life behind. He could never go back to who he used to be as long as he stayed with Rei.

My stepsister was fuming with anger, and I knew she would be. It pained me to see her like this. I had wanted to welcome her into our family, but I understood why we couldn't. My grandfather and I still had provided everything she could have needed without alerting Rei to our presence or involvement. We watched from a distance as Shiloh, Onyx, and Salem grew up. I couldn't help but laugh at the memory of my reaction when Rei chose the name for her youngest child: SOS, universally known as a distress signal. It seemed like an unconscious cry for help from Rei, who must have known something was not right in her life with Greg, yet she stayed with him.

If I wanted to have a genuine relationship with Rei, I needed to be fully present for her. I had to provide honest answers and not avoid any of her questions if I wanted my stepsister to continue being a part of my life. It was also important for me to support Shiloh, Onyx, and Salem, but above all, I needed to be there for Grace and help her rebuild a friendship that meant everything to her and Rei. Their bond had grown into something indescribable, and taking care of Rei and loving her was no longer just a responsibility for Grace; it was a deep connection between them. My girlfriend truly loved Rei and her children.

“We will follow through on my grandfather's wishes and get rid of them. But for now, we need to concentrate on Rei. Emmanuel and Lillianna may think they are safe, but they won't be for long. We will track them down and take care of them. They can't hide from us forever,” I stated with determination.

“Let’s focus on helping each other heal for tonight,” I said, forcing myself to calm down, even though my eyes burned with a fiery intensity.

I turned to Jakub, grappling with my emotions. “Jakub, are you okay? Can you stay with us tonight, or do you need to go home? You were close with my grandfather.”

“Thank you, Boss,” Jakub's voice was strained, almost pleading. “But the best way for me to honor his memory is to protect you and Rei. I appreciate you asking, though.” His voice cracked as he struggled to contain his own grief.